SummitX 2014

SummitX 2014 is an inaugural collaboration between NewSchools Venture Fund and Harvard Graduate School of Education (HGSE). The NewSchools SummitX will gather together emerging Boston education leaders to share ideas, resources and connections and watch the NewSchools annual Summit via live stream from San Francisco.

Please RSVP here by Monday, April 28th. You are welcome to join for all or part of the event as your schedule permits.

Parking available for $1.25/hr in the iLab and HBS lots 15-20 minute walk from Harvard Square T Stop

SummitX Agenda

(note: times indicated are EDT)

11:00AM – 12:20PM: Bryan Stevenson, Equal Justice Initiative Bryan Stevenson of the Equal Justice Initiative will talk with us about race, poverty and justice in America. On the 60th anniversary of Brown v Board of Education, he will help place the debate over CCSS in the context of the long fight for equal access to high quality education for students of color.

12:20PM – 1:20PM: Lunch Break

1:20PM-2:50PM: But How Do We Know What’s Working?

The pace of technology adoption in schools is accelerating like a Formula 1 race car driven by teachers and administrators hungry for products that spur deeper engagement and better results for their students. But how can customers, product developers, and investors figure out what’s working? In this session we’ll talk with entrepreneurs, investors and publishers about the latest ideas for defining efficacy and assessing the impact of education technology on student learning.

3:00P-4:10PM: John King, New York State Commissioner of Education in Conversation with Joanne Weiss, former Chief of Staff, US Department of Education

Joanne Weiss and John King will reflect on his experience advancing the CCSS in New York State.

4:10PM-4:50PM: Break

4:50PM-6:00PM: Winning the Fight for Higher Standards

Almost all of the states have adopted more rigorous academic expectations for students. But the standards have come under serious political fire from the right and left. The fight is not substantive it’s political and reformers are often caught in the middle. Join us for a look at the common elements of this battle and lessons — strategy and tactics — for winning the battle for students.

Jim Shelton will lead a discussion on the importance of increasing diversity in the leadership ranks of education reform. Acknowledging both opportunities and challenges, as well the progress, and lack of progress, made to date, Jim and panelists will sketch out plans for rapidly altering the status quo and invite the audience to take up the challenge.